GW Women's Swimming Wins Rhode Island Invitational

Colonials Open 2014 With Victory Over Conference Competition

KINGSTON, R.I. - The George Washington women's swimming team opened the 2014 portion of its schedule on a high note as the squad won the Rhode Island Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

Fueled by three event victories and 26 top-five finishes on the second day of competition, the Colonials tallied 414 points throughout the two days en route to a first-place finish at the Rams' Tootell Aquatics Center.

Junior Janica Lee took home top honors in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:07.56, and senior Remy Neville finished in third in 1:09.46 followed by sophomore Mara Debnekoff in fourth in 1:09.95. The Colonials nearly swept the top-five spots in the 1,000-yard freestyle as senior Caroline Myers won with a time of 10:15.86. Sophomore Madison Reinker (10:34.91) took home second, followed by classmate Emma Gaquin (10:49.18) in fourth and senior Taylor Cole (11:04.46) in fifth.

The rookie duo of Carly Whitmer and Lauren Law claimed the top two spots in the 200-yard butterfly as Whitmer finished in 2:07.19 and Law touched the wall in 2:08.11.

In the 400-yard individual medley, senior Remy Neville took home second in 4:39.88 and Law finished in a close third in 4:40.61. Whitmer (58.01), junior Morgan Zebley (58.75) and classmate Bianca Valencia (59.81) earned second, third and fourth places in the 100 fly, respectively.

Lee recorded a second-place finish in the 200 breast in 2:26.31 and Neville finished in third in 2:27.41. Senior Sydney Saunders tied for third in the 100-yard freestyle in 54.25 seconds and Myers earned third in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:55.50.

In the 100-yard backstroke, senior Lindsay Moore touched the wall in 1:02.52 for fourth place. Freshman Hanna Schaefer and Moore finished in a tight third and fourth places in the 200 back as Schaefer clocked in at 2:12.14 and Moore finished in 2:12.55.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Moore, Lee, Zebley and senior Sloan Saunders finished third with a time of 1:51.85, while the squad of Schaefer, Debnekoff, Valencia and sophomore Kally Vanderbilt followed in fifth place in 1:54.43. The Colonials then earned second and fourth in the 400 free relay to wrap the meet. Law and seniors Melissa Fernandez, Sloan Saunders and Sydney Saunders teamed up for a time of 3:35.65 while Lee, Neville, Vanderbilt and Whitmer finished in 3:41.82.

Host Rhode Island finished the invitational in second with 394 points, followed by Massachusetts in third with 384 points.

GW returns to the pool on Saturday, Jan. 18 for its home finale and Senior Day meet. Action against crosstown rival Georgetown inside the Smith Center Pool is slated for 1 p.m.